Thursday, November 13, 2008

A Traditional Dining Room

One of the first projects I decorated was a lovely home built in the 1880's with fantastic bones and detail throughout. The clients wanted to stay true to this aesthetic (the owner loves antiques and having a comfortable "lived-in" feel) but also wanted to create a space that was reflective of the architecture with a neutral palette and great flow since they love to entertain and gather in the space.

After

The dining room is quite unique with two sets of French doors - one looking to the family room and the other opening to a sun room - and most of the activity is spent in these areas so capitalizing on the abundance of light was a top priority. We first started with a paint palette to complement the adjoining rooms and chose Ralph Lauren Urban Loft: Architectural Cream, a go-to color that adds a clean crisp look to any room.

The client had pine chairs that we refinished and slip covered with a linen paisley print that was inspired off of an old print the client had. We found a beautiful pine table from a flea market in Virginia that was a brilliant bargain. It went perfectly with the chairs and complements the Oriental rug that was purchased at ABC Home. The rug was the largest investment but it definitely adds cohesiveness to the space and grounds all the pieces. We also refinished the pine floorboards to deepen the color and to add lasting texture. Lastly, the tableware and linens were purchased at a wonderful antique store called Old Lucketts Store in Leesburg, VA.

After

We actually spent a great deal of time rummaging through the flea markets in Virginia and found many great stores and this one in particular is a favorite. They offer everything from French provincial pieces, great items for the garden, and fantastic linens. The table top is completely characteristic of the clients; laid back and relaxed yet refined and classic. This dining room provides dual function for both entertaining and lounging. The client's seem to spend most of their time here now and have truly enjoyed the new changes.